How would the DNA of a Woolly mammoth cloned using procedure described in article compare with hereditary material fossilized remains to clone it?

You're asking a very insightful question about the potential differences between DNA used for cloning a woolly mammoth and DNA from fossilized remains. Here's a breakdown:

DNA from a Cloned Mammoth vs. DNA from Fossils

* Source: DNA from a cloned mammoth would be derived from a living cell, while DNA from fossils is extracted from ancient remains.

* Integrity: Fossilized DNA is highly fragmented and degraded. It's often contaminated with microbial DNA and prone to mutations accumulated over millennia. In contrast, DNA from a cloned mammoth would be a complete and relatively pristine copy of the original mammoth genome.

* Mutations: The cloning process itself can introduce mutations. The process of extracting, amplifying, and inserting DNA into a recipient cell can lead to accidental changes in the genetic code.

* Epigenetics: Epigenetic modifications (chemical tags on DNA that influence gene expression) are lost in fossilized DNA. These modifications play a crucial role in development and cell function. A cloned mammoth would lack the original epigenetic information.

* Mitochondrial DNA: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is passed down maternally and is often better preserved in fossils than nuclear DNA. Cloned mammoths would likely have mtDNA from the donor cell, which might not be the same as the original mammoth.

Implications for Cloning:

* Feasibility: The highly degraded state of fossilized mammoth DNA makes cloning from it incredibly challenging. It's currently not possible to reconstruct a complete genome from fossilized DNA.

* Accuracy: Even if we could, the reconstructed genome might not be a perfect match to the original mammoth, potentially leading to unpredictable results in a cloned animal.

* Ethical Considerations: The ethical implications of cloning a long-extinct animal are complex and debated.

Conclusion:

While the concept of cloning a woolly mammoth from fossilized DNA is fascinating, the reality is that the DNA recovered from fossils is too damaged to create a viable clone. Cloning from a living cell, if possible, would provide a more complete and accurate copy of the mammoth's genetic material, but it would still be challenging and raise ethical concerns.

It's important to note that the scientific community is actively researching ways to reconstruct and study ancient DNA, and the field is constantly evolving. However, cloning a mammoth remains a distant possibility for now.